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Have you ever experienced the frustration of losing important files on your Mac? It can happen for a variety of reasons such as accidentally deleting files, a system crash, or even a virus attack. Fortunately, there are ways to recover lost files on Mac, and in this article, we will show you some reliable methods to do so.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Recovering Lost Files on Mac
Losing data on your Mac can be a real challenge especially if you don’t have a backup of all your files. Recovering lost files from a Mac device can be complex because you have to make sure you do not corrupt your files during the recovery process. But by using effective and reliable recovery methods, you can retrieve your lost data. Below are some steps that you can follow to retrieve deleted files on your Mac device.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start any of the methods to recover lost files on your Mac, there are some things that you need to prepare first:
1. Stop using your Mac device immediately after you realize that you have lost some files. The more time you spend using the device, the more likely it is that you will overwrite the lost data.
2. Make sure that your Mac device is powered by a stable power supply so that it doesn’t shut down during the recovery process.
3. Have an external drive or a cloud storage service where you can transfer the recovered files.
Method 1: Recover Lost Files on Mac using Time Machine
Time Machine is an automatic backup feature that comes with Mac OS. This is the easiest way to recover lost files on your Mac. If you have already set up Time Machine on your Mac device, you can use it to restore your lost files.
1. Connect the external hard drive that you used for Time Machine backups to your Mac device.
2. Click the Apple icon and select System Preferences.
3. Click Time Machine.
4. Click Enter Time Machine.
5. Browse through the folders and locate the files that you want to restore.
6. Click Restore.
Pros:
– Time Machine is a built-in feature on all Mac devices.
– It is easy to use and doesn’t require any additional software.
Cons:
– You must have set up Time Machine in the first place.
– You need an external hard drive to use Time Machine.
Method 2: Recover Lost Files on Mac using Data Recovery Software
If Time Machine doesn’t work or you don’t have a Time Machine backup, you can use data recovery software to recover your lost files. There are different data recovery software options available for Mac users, but we will focus on EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
1. Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.
2. Launch the software and select the drive where you lost your files.
3. Click Scan to start the scanning process. Wait for the scanning process to complete.
4. Preview and select the files that you want to recover.
5. Click Recover to save the files to a safe location.
Pros:
– Data recovery software can recover lost files from various types of storage devices including internal and external hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards.
– It can recover different file types including photos, videos, documents, and audio files.
Cons:
– Data recovery software can be expensive.
– The scanning process can take a long time.
Method 3: Recover Lost Files on Mac using Terminal
Terminal is a powerful tool that you can use to recover lost files on your Mac. Before you start using Terminal, make sure that you have enabled the root user account on your Mac device.
1. Open Terminal on your Mac device.
2. Enter the command ‘sudo su -‘ and press Enter.
3. Enter your administrator password and press Enter.
4. Enter the command ‘cd ~/.Trash’ and press Enter.
5. Enter the command ‘ls’ and press Enter to list all the files in the Trash folder.
6. Enter the command ‘mv filename /Users/username/Desktop’. Replace ‘filename’ with the name of the file that you want to recover and ‘username’ with your username.
7. Check your Desktop for the recovered file.
Pros:
– Terminal is a built-in feature in all Mac devices.
– It can recover files that were permanently deleted from the Trash.
Cons:
– Terminal can be complicated and risky to use.
– Using Terminal incorrectly could result in data loss or system damage.
Why Can’t I Recover Lost Files on Mac?
1. Accidental deletion: If you accidentally deleted a file, it could be in the Trash folder. Check the Trash folder first before trying any recovery methods.
2. System crash: If your Mac device crashed, it could have caused some files to become corrupted. Some of the lost files may be recoverable, but others may be permanently lost.
3. Virus attack: A virus attack can cause data loss and corruption. If you suspect a virus attack, you should run an anti-virus program to remove the virus.
Q1: How can I prevent data loss on my Mac?
A: You can prevent data loss on your Mac by regularly backing up your important files. Use Time Machine or a cloud storage service to automatically backup your files.
Q2: Can I recover files that were deleted a long time ago?
A: It depends on how long ago the files were deleted. If the files were deleted several months or years ago, they might be permanently lost.
Q3: Is it safe to use data recovery software?
A: Yes, data recovery software is safe to use as long as you use a trusted and reliable software. Make sure to read reviews and do research before selecting a data recovery software.
Q4: Do I need a professional to recover my lost files?
A: No, you don’t need a professional to recover your lost files. You can use any of the methods provided in this article to recover your lost files.
Q5: Can I recover files from a formatted hard drive?
A: Yes, you can recover files from a formatted hard drive by using data recovery software.
Additional Tips
1. Always save your recovered files to a safe location that is different from the drive where you lost them.
2. Don’t install any new software on your Mac device after losing files as it could result in overwriting lost data.
3. Always keep a backup of your important files to prevent data loss.
In Conclusion
Losing important files on your Mac device can be frustrating, but with the methods provided in this article, you can recover lost files on your Mac. Always remember to back up your files regularly to prevent data loss and corruption. If you encounter any problems during the recovery process, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.